Flare-up with Phnom Penh intensifies

The diplomatic flare-up with Cambodia worsened yesterday after Phnom Penh expelled a first secretary at the Thai embassy - and Thailand responding in kind.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry ordered Kamrob Palawatwichai to leave the country within 48 hours, from 5pm yesterday.

When Bangkok learnt of the order, they countered by expelling the first secretary at the Cambodian Embassy here, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours from 5pm, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said.

It was not clear why Cambodia chose to expel Kamrob, one of three first secretaries in Phnom Penh while leaving Chalotorn Phaovibul, the number 2 at the embassy.

However, a security source said Kamrob had had conflicts with the Cambodian foreign ministry over Thailand's refusal to allow a Cambodian ship to enter Thai waters.

Meanwhile Cambodia's foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said, "We expelled the diplomat first, and they responded by asking our first secretary to leave their country within the next 48 hours," Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Koy Kuong.

"The Thai diplomat has executed work in contradiction to his position," he said, refusing to give further details.

The move came while on the third day of the fugitive ex-PM's visit to Cambodia. Thaksin gave a lecture on economic issues to about 250 officials at the Economy and Finance Ministry yesterday before leaving for Siem Reap to play golf and visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Earlier, Thailand recalled its ambassador to protest at the appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser while Cambodia recalled its envoy shortly after.

Thailand also revoked a bilateral memorandum of understanding on gas and oil projects in an area in the Gulf of Thailand claimed by both countries.